Shimano Tekota 600

I'm thinking of getting a Shimano Tekota 600 for king salmon fishing. Anybody have any opinions?

Nothing but problems for me. Drag issues and I don't want to say poor customer service but after the 3rd time returning the reel, please just send me a new one.

I have had great luck on my curado's and bantams so It may have been an isolated incident.

There was a thread a while back on this issue and there were alot of problems posted about the 600

SCARBOO

Just changed out another drag... also had two levelwind failures.... only two seasons on my pair of Tekotas. Customer service is great, but I would have expected more out of a reel in this price range.

Just bought one and used it on Sturgeon.

Worked just fine cast smooth, no ratsnests, no problems whatsoever.

It replaced a Penn 220 that took a dump the first time out.

POS POS POS POS POs POS POS POS
JUNK JUNK JUNK JUNK JUNK JUNK JUNK
DON"T DO IT!!!!

J&L...... .....that's pretty clear!

No I want it to be Crystal Clear.

Havent had any problems with mine yet.But I have only used it one season.

This topic is currently making the rounds at Ifish.

Just wondering what the experience has been for folks on this board now that this reel has been around for another year-plus.

I have two. My Tekota 600 has been working well for two years. I use it for saltwater salmon trolling four or five days a week in the summer. No problems at all. My 500 LC broke after maybe twenty days of use. The spool engage/disengage broke inside the reel. Can't tell you how customer service has been though as I haven't sent it in over a year later. I have been using the Moocher reels since then and there is nothing to fail on those graphite reels. I like the Tekotas but think they are a little overpriced. $119.95 to $129.95 MSRP would be a more realistic price for them IMO.

Terrapin

I have had a tekota 600 for about 5 years now. I have not used it on the west coast yet. But i fished alot with it from Boston all the way down the coast the Forida Keys. Have not have a single probelm. Have caught 50 plus pount striper and 100 plus pound tarpon in the keys. i would buy another on in a heartbeat. Also try looking into the Penn 555MAG. A great real. Used to have the world record for baitcasting, only downfall is that it is not a leverwind. Good luck

Bought a couple of the 600LC last year...no probs, great reels...so far.

Get a Saltist!

I've had one for 2yrs now. Had no probs with it. It has 27 & 30 lb kings under it's belt so far.

I've used a 500 and a 500 LC for 2 years. no problems. Bought the LC from a guide(who gets free reels/poles every year) so not sure how much it was used but I assume a lot. lovem....

I've got a couple I use for jigging halibut & lings ... no probs so far. Several guide buddies use them as well on the Kenai and seem to like them. I can't say that I've used mine enough yet for a "reel" test, but so far, so good.

I have 5 500's that I scored a great deal on late last summer and will use starting next summer for my early-run Kasilof king reeels. After a couple of hundred fish, I'll let ya know how they do

I've been using the 500LC for the past 4 years probably harder then anyone here and haven't found another reel that holds up better to 8 hours a day, 85 to 90 days in a row of mooching for salmon and dragging up halibut, some well over 100 lbs., these reels take abuse like you wouldn't believe and just keep on going. They are by no means bullet proof, but they are alot like Timex, they take a licking and keep on ticking.

Have been overall happy with mine as well. Did have the drivetrain for the levelwind break, but level winds and tuna don't really mix anyway. If i wanted another purpose star drag salmon trolling reel for under 200 bucks, I'd definitely buy another.

I don't own any Tekota 600's, but I have 6 each of the Shimano Tekota 500LC's and 300LC's line counters reels and they're awsome!

Hello all.

I own 4 Tekota 600LC reels and love them. They've caught lots of kings this summer in the salt. Smooth drag. I use 65# Power Pro as a mainline and the reels work like a champ. Thumbs up!!

Welcome Blue

Restored mine back to working order again Two reels and two seasons.... been thru 2 levelwinds and 3 drags... just wondering if others had similar problems.

But WOW... apparently not many! I may have to rethink my position on the issue given the results of this poll. (OK, please shoot me... sounds way too much like the crap we hear from from the presidential front-runners)

Jerry (J&L Brown), I guess you and I were the only ones in the free world who bought the crappy ones.

My dad and brother and I all have two each. My dad has had drag issues with his, but the four that my brother and I have are holding up very well. I really like the handle and the click drag.

Doc,

Since I started this thread I suppose I should let you know my experience with the 600 on the Kenai. No problems whatsoever. However, I decided that the 500LC was a better reel for the way I fish and I picked a couple of them up. So far so good. Both the 600 and 500LC were big improvements over the TR200's.....